Sanford Alum Sets New Sprint Standards at USM

Sanford High School alum Ethan Shain is rewriting the indoor track record books at the University of Southern Maine
Photo Credit: James Liebowitz
Sanford Alum Sets New Sprint Standards at USM
By Sam Bonsey, Sanford Schools Communications Coordinator
When 2020 Sanford High School graduate Ethan Shain walked the halls as a three-sport athlete, few could have predicted he would become one of New England’s elite collegiate sprinters. Now at the University of Southern Maine, where he holds or shares school records in four events (55-meter dash, 60-meter dash, 100-meter dash, and indoor 200-meters), Shain credits much of his success to the foundation built during his time as a Spartan.
Under the guidance of coaches Kevin Way, Mike Fallon and Jacob Mills, Shain developed the athletic versatility and mental toughness that would later fuel his collegiate achievements. While dividing his time between basketball, football, and track, he absorbed valuable lessons about discipline and dedication that extended far beyond the playing field.
“Between Coach Fallon being the past head coach and learning the discipline and the work it takes to succeed in certain areas – that really shaped me,” Shain said. His track coaches collaborated to help athletes find their strengths despite not having specialized sprint coaches. “It was collectively just trying to come together and figure things out,” he says.
During his high school years, Shain focused primarily on basketball, with track taking a secondary role. “In high school, I wasn’t ever really focused on things like the weight room or the little details,” he admitted. “I almost just kind of went on cruise control. I was fortunate that I was good enough to compete in college, but there was so much more to learn.”
That learning curve steepened dramatically when Shain entered the collegiate ranks, where he has since earned a captain’s role on the team. The transition from Sanford’s spring track season to USM’s intensive year-round training program required significant adjustment. “The biggest change has been the length of time and intensity,” Shain said. “In college track, there’s a general consensus of people who want to succeed and do what they can. It’s a battle.”
His journey since graduation hasn’t been without challenges. After taking time off during the COVID-19 pandemic and later battling hamstring injuries that sidelined him for 12 weeks, Shain drew upon the resilience he developed as a Spartan to fight his way back to competitive form.
“It taught me the mental fortitude needed for this sport,” he said. “Track and field is a team sport, but it’s also very individual. You can completely beat yourself down if you aren’t careful. It was nine months of just plugging through, knowing eventually you’re going to have a breakthrough.”
That breakthrough came in spectacular fashion when Shain qualified for indoor nationals in the 60-meter dash last March, finishing 16th overall and earning second-team All-American honors – an achievement that brought him to tears. “I never thought something like this would happen. It was like one of those Cinderella stories,” he said.
His success has resonated deeply within the Sanford community, with messages of support pouring in from former classmates, teammates, and coaches after his national qualification.
For current Sanford students, Shain’s message emphasized the importance of perseverance: “There’s always that mental side of things that is hard, especially in sports or just in anything. Perseverance is always the biggest part. It’s not always how you finish – it’s the journey that you have to remember the most.”

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